New Zealand earthquakes

It has been interesting to read about the NZ CC Motorhome Tour that recently took place. The last story, in the Stories section on here gives you some idea of what it's like to actually be there when an earthquake happens. It was good to hear that the rest of the trip went well and everyone was safe even if the ending was unexpected. 

I have been lucky enough to have visited NZ on several occasions, and have also been to most of the places mentioned, and I find the forces of nature almost unbelieveable

agree with you entirely, a few centimetres may not sound much, but if it happens a few times it can change the whole appearance of a place, and affect human lives to a greater or lesser degree

Well we're all sitting on moving plates, some more active than others, Italy is also on the move. Iceland has some weak spots too.

We also have been a few times, beautiful country. Whilst there we were going to hike with others to Mt Tongariro but it started erupting just after we set off, needless to say our guide cancelled the hike. As it was it growled and smoked for a few days, but gave us a reality check just how fragile the country is.

Weve only visited the once and hired a car travelling and camping on both North & South Islands. For us the most beautiful place we have visited in the whole world.  So we were devastated to learn of the devastation to Christchurch a couple of years ago and now to Kaikura too. So sad.

But we are determined to save enough to do the trip again and this time to stay longer hiring a MH if we can.

For us it is the area between Queenstown and Te Anau which we love most. We are determined to see Milford Sound on a nice day!  Both times we visited before it was very wet and very foggy!

TF

Our daughter lives in the North Island about an hour and half south of Auckland.  She felt the quake, she didn't feel the Christchurch one. Friends of theirs lost half the water from their swimming pool, located in the ground, some aren't and that's hundreds of Kms away. We visit often it is a beautiful part of the world and ponder joining her and her family. Our son arrive in Christchurch in early January to tour the South Island, his girlfriend hasn't done south, before visiting his sister towards the end of the month. 

Very interesting reading.

Well we're all sitting on moving plates, some more active than others, Italy is also on the move. Iceland has some weak spots too.

Iceland is on the line of the North American/European plate. You can stand with one foot in Europe and one in North America. It sounds more impressive than it is. The fissure just looks like a fairly innocuous crack in the ground.